More Than a Test Score

Michale Valentino is a high school senior with aspirations to study Public Relations.  We wish we could make college as easy as pie but we hope this scholarship helps him make paying for college as Easy As Pi!

What was your reaction when you found out that you had won the “Easy As Pi Zinch Scholarship”?

Of course I was excited when I found out. If I could have done a cartwheel without looking like a lunatic, I think I would have. Without the help of scholarships such as these, I don’t know how I would afford to even attend college. The cost of college has become so drastically high, and I am so grateful to have received a scholarship as generous as this.  I agree completely with Zinch’s philosophy that we are more than just a test score, and I am glad that there are organizations such as these that make it possible for students to reach for their dreams.

What was your parents’ reaction?

Being that my mother does not make much money, she was extremely excited. This scholarship is making it possible for me to pursue further education and my mother is completely grateful for that.

What college do you want to go to and why?

I can’t specifically say which college I want to go to yet, because I’m still waiting to hear from certain places. However, I want to go to a diverse school with a lot of students. I love the fact that my school system is extremely diverse. I have become so accustomed to that growing up that it will be hard to go to a college that doesn’t have variety. I also like that I am a senior, and I’m still meeting people I’ve never met before in my grade. It has given me the opportunity to become friends with a plethora of people. I want to go to school for Public Relations, and maybe eventually go on to advertising. It is important for me to find a prestigious school that has a great Communications program.

What is one outrageous (as in crazy, impulsive, dangerous, etc…) thing you want to do before you die?

I think that riding on a jet pack would be extremely awesome. I’ve always wanted to do something like that. If I could do that when I’m like 98 years old with my walker, I would be set.

How are you more than a test score?

Who I am on paper by no means correlates with who I am in person. Test scores are merely a way for colleges to make a quick generalization about people throughout the application review process. I don’t feel that I should be denied any opportunity simply because I’m not a good test taker. Standardized testing has become less about knowledge and more about how you can beat the system. Personally, my growing up in an adverse atmosphere has very much affected my scores on tests. I don’t live in a household where my sole purpose is to study 24/7. I worked my first job when I was 12 years old. I received my first internship position in Times Square when I was 16, and I worked a second job at the same time in order to pay for my train tickets. Helping my widowed mother maintain a household became such a huge priority that I didn’t have much time to focus on my studies. I feel that having dealt with these experiences growing up made me a stronger individual. I have become driven, ambitious, and tenacious. I have made National Honor Society at school, and have been a part of numerous extra curricular and volunteer activities. I feel that once I am separated from many of my domestic responsibilities, I will strive for success in college and in life. However, you would not know this about me by looking at my SAT score, would you?

Thanks Michael! Keep checking back to see more scholarship winners!

Creative writing can be hard to kick-start, especially if you’re used to writing more academic essays. Here are five common mistakes to avoid.
1. Don’t write a traditional 5-paragraph essay with a thesis, body, and conclusion. Take some risks with the structure and show your personality. Use the first person and just start writing. See what happens. You can pose a question or start with a distinctive opinion on a topic. Almost anything goes.

2. Don’t be gimmicky. We’ve all heard about the student who wrote his essay about his childhood years with a crayon and got accepted to every college. The likelihood of this being true is slim. It’s like communism: good in theory, impossible in practice. Let the substance of your writing be the real story.

3. Don’t come off as arrogant. This can be difficult, because part of what you’re trying to do with your personal essay is highlight something positive about yourself. But it’s one thing to call yourself awesome in your own essay and quite another to write about things you’ve done that show how awesome you clearly are. The old rule of writing applies here: show, don’t tell.

4. Don’t be cheesy. You shouldn’t come off like a bad Hallmark card. Let’s be serious. You’re not somebody who is so inspired by the beauty of the world you are brought to tears at the sight of a single flower. Come on. You know over-sentimentality when you see it, so keep it out of your essay.

5. Don’t use overly formal language. Applying to college is serious business, but that doesn’t mean that the tone and style of your essays need to be stuffy. Colleges are looking for personality and character, so relax when you start expressing yourself. Instead of writing something dry like, “I have come to this understanding according to certain factors that have influenced my life…” write something lively like, “During the summer of 2009, I was stalked by my literary hero.”

This post has been written and published with permission of College Essay Optimizer, a Zinch partner in bringing you the resources you need to make applying to college simple, stress-free, and successful.

Congratulations to Alexa Uderman our Easy As Pie IV Zinch Scholarship winner!

Alexa is an up and coming artist. Her colorful profile helped her standout!

Here is a little more about our winner:

When/where did you hear about Zinch and the “Easy As Pie Scholarship”?
I found out about the scholarship through Zinch’s scholarship reminder emails.

What was your reaction when you found out that you had won the “Easy As Pie Scholarship”?
When I found out that I won, I was so shocked; I didn’t believe it at first. Haha, I was and still am extremely excited.

What was your parents reaction?
My parents are really proud of me for the scholarship and tell me to keep up the good work! They’re just as surprised as I am!

What college do you want to go to and why?
I still haven’t decided on a college yet. I’m really keeping my options open since I’m interested in so many different subjects. However, if I could attend my school of choice, I’d love to enroll at Ringling College of Art and Design to major in illustration or fine arts. The school has an amazing faculty, great resources, and is five minutes from the beach! Plus, the city itself heavily promotes the arts and there is just so much inspiration everywhere! It’s the perfect place to grow as a young artist!

What is one outrageous (as in crazy, impulsive, dangerous, etc…) thing
you want to do before you die?
Before I die, I’d like to be crazy enough to go cage diving with Great Whites off California.

How are you more than a test score?
I am more than a test score because a number cannot define who I am or what I do. A number doesn’t say I love soccer and art and helping other people succeed, or that I really don’t understand the point of caviar. Nor does it explain my origins, my past, my present, and my future. It only attempts to physically set a limit on my potential for success but it can’t stop me from meeting my goals. After all, it’s only a number.

Burger King is taking orders on their biggest Whopper yet:

Their HAVE IT YOUR WAY® Foundation is offering multiple $1,000 scholarships to eligible high school seniors.  We’re only a week away from the Feb 1 deadline — and BK is still looking for qualified applicants!

Eligibility Requirements:

• High School seniors
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Work part-time for minimum 10 hours/week

Selection Criteria:

• Financial need
• Community involvement
• Extracurricular activities
• Academic achievements and records
• Work experience

And that’s it.  With so many winners, it would be crazy not to chow down on this scrumptious offering.

APPLY NOW, using the Access Key: BKS

Make sure you’re eligible, and get it in before the February 1st deadline.  Good luck!

Congratulations Michael Valentino winner of the Easy As Pi V Zinch Scholarship winner! We are so thrilled to see how many students are making great profiles! We know this will help you get to your dream school and hey we’ll even help you pay for it.

More about our winner:

I am interested in Communication studies in Public Relations. I eventually want to go into advertising. Due to my father’s unexpected passing when I was 6 years old, I was expected to mature beyond my years to compensate for his absence. Especially since my mother makes under $25,000 a year. However, I made school my top priority and obtained decent grades and gained acceptance into the National Honor Society. I began acting in the school plays and became an overall great participant in extra curricular activities. I will stop at nothing to achieve all that life has to offer.

Thanks to everyone for applying! Keep updating those profiles!